Parker stared at the “Danger, Falling Rocks” sign at the base of the castle’s mountain. He couldn’t believe how truly similar Lara had made Earth 2. Parker never expected small details like that to make it to Earth 2. Ever since they’d arrived, the amount of detail had astounded him. Whenever he’d thought about her plans before they happened, he just pictured another planet that would need to be cultivated and reestablished. Not one that was “move-in ready”.
“I used to always think Lancastre was like the biggest thing ever when we got here as first years,” Caleb said.
Parker laughed. “Well, think about how small you were back then. I bet a boulder was the biggest thing too.” Everyone chuckled at that, and Caleb hit Parker in the ankle with a ball of water. “Not cool dude, now my sock is all wet.” Parker threw a ball of water at Caleb’s foot to get even, but Caleb was expecting it. So, before the water could hit him, it turned into a flurry of snow and blew right around him.
“Well, that’s a new one,” Alexis pointed out.
Master Sora snapped his fingers. “Okay, let’s get going now. It doesn’t seem like any of the creatures from Earth 1 are here, but just in case some made it, I’d really like to not run into them.” Parker remembered back to the Petra Ingen that had almost killed them and agreed completely with Master Sora’s comment.
They started to make their way up the mountain, following the familiar stream from their mission they’d gone on to get Kendall to Lancastre. About halfway up the mountain, they took a break to get a drink and rest for a moment. Parker couldn’t believe they were almost back to the school already.
Taking the day and a half of no practice was a great decision. He felt much better rested and to get back to it.
“Hey, Master Sora,” Alexis started.
The master turned his head and raised an eyebrow. “Yes?”
“You never told us.”
He furrowed his brow confused. “Told you what?”
“Why you wanted to come back to the school.”
Parker and Caleb both turned their attention to the master. Parker had completely forgotten that the master had skirted around answering that question before they left.
“Oh…” the master half-groaned, realizing he had no way out of it this time. “It was a silly theory I had, but I’ve thought more about it the closer to the castle that we’ve gotten, and I don’t know if it’s even plausible.”
“What’s the theory?” Caleb asked. “I mean what’s the worst that can happen? We laugh uncontrollably at you?” Parker covered his mouth, holding in his laughter.
Master Sora took a deep breath. “You used to be able to sense someone’s core, correct?” he asked Parker. Parker nodded slowly. “Well, I was thinking that if—” The master shook his head. “Never mind, it’s stupid.”
“No, no, no!” Alexis exclaimed. “What’s your theory?”
“If there was something of Lara’s at the castle, maybe we could find a way to sense her core.”
Alexis’s jaw dropped. Parker and Caleb stared at the master. Was that even possible? “Seriously?” she asked.
Parker could see the master’s face go red. He didn’t think it was all that bad of an idea, so Alexis’s reaction took him by surprise. “Does that seem like a bad idea?” Parker asked nervously.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Alexis’s gaping mouth turned into a huge grin from ear to ear. “That’s the same reason I wanted to come back! I didn’t want to say it ‘cause I thought it sounded a little ridiculous.”
“So, wait, you both had the same idea? What are the odds of that?” Caleb asked. No one had an answer, but it sped up their drive to get up to the school. They took off as fast as they could without saying a word.
Parker landed at the foot of the bridge that crossed over the lake around the castle. The waterfall roared next to them, and Parker’s heart raced. The feeling that was going through his body was electric.
They walked across the bridge, taking in all their surroundings. Everything still looked perfect from when they’d left it to head east. As they rounded the corner, Parker heard something and held out his arm gesturing for everyone to stop. He closed his eyes, listening as carefully as possible.
He heard a door close and before he could even react to it, Master Terra was staring him in the eye from several feet away. How could that be? There was no way that Lara would have brought him along to Earth 2. How could he be here, right now?
Tension filled the air around them. Parker felt like it squeezing in on his chest. So many thoughts were running through his head at that moment that he couldn’t get any of them out.
Master Sora stepped in front of Parker and held his arms out in a protective stance. “What are you doing here?” His voice boomed, echoing off the castle walls and the trees nearby. The way he said the word “you” was as if he were saying the worst of all slurs.
“I could ask you the same thing!” Master Terra retorted.
“You have no right to ask us that! Because of you, billions of people are dead!”
Master Terra laughed. “I am not the one who killed billions!”
“You may as well have pulled the trigger,” Master Sora shot at him.
Parker bounced his head back and forth as each master spoke as if he were watching a tennis match. He didn’t know what to expect this situation to evolve into. Was there going to be a fight? Or just an arguing match?
“That lunatic is the one who killed those people! Not me!” The master’s face was growing redder by the second. “Being an Omni has corrupted her mind and there’s nothing left but delusion!”
“Why are you here?” Parker shouted during a brief moment of silence.
Master Terra glared at Parker before speaking. “If you must know, I’d left something in the castle, and I was hoping it’d made the jump.”
“That’s it?” Master Sora asked suspiciously, seeing if there was anything else he could get out the ex-master.
“What’s it matter to you?” Master Terra scoffed. “I’m just going to go now. Hope to never see you again.” He turned his back to them and started to walk away.
Master Sora sent a burst of air at his back and knocked him down onto his face. Alexis gasped and clasped her hands over her mouth in surprise. Parker and Caleb both looked at the downed master, hearts racing slightly.
Master Terra slowly got to his hands and knees. Parker couldn’t quite tell but it seemed like the master was laughing to himself, which he knew couldn’t be a good thing. “Be ready…” Parker whispered to everyone.
Before anyone could register what he’d said, Master Sora was launched into the air as the ground under his feet shot upwards. A moment later though, he gently landed on the ground.
“Let’s make something clear here,” Master Terra said as he got to his feet. “I came here to get something and leave. If you want a fight, I’ll give you a fight but all I want is to stop that crazy—” he stopped himself and took a breath. “Woman.”
“Are you going to kill her?” Alexis blurted out like word-vomit. She quickly covered her mouth, as if she regretted saying anything at all.
Master Terra turned his attention to Alexis and stared at her for a moment. He took a deep breath, “If that’s what it takes. Because of her, my daughter is dead.” The master continued to stare intently at Alexis after he said it. She wasn’t completely sure, but it seemed like the master was clenching his jaw now.
“Go,” Alexis said. “We won’t fight you.” Master Sora turned his attention to Alexis now, eyes widened in surprise. Alexis looked him in the eye and slowly shook her head. “Let him go,” she mouthed.
There was a long, uncomfortable silence as Master Terra walked away, across the bridge and out of sight. More uncomfortable silence passed for several minutes after the master had left.
Master Sora began walking toward the castle and the others followed him without a single question. They’d come back for a reason; it was time to see if there theory was correct.